Hammock or chair support



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FAY O. FARVVELL, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ASSIGNCIR TO GEORGE (J. BENTZ,

OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

HAMMOCK OR CHAIR SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,642, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed July 14, 1890. Serial No. 358,651. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FAY O. FARWELL, of the city and county of Dubuque, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hammock or Chair Supports, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 isa perspective View of a hammock or chair embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Fig.4 is an enlarged detail View, partly in section, showing the manner of connecting the central brace with the other supports. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view in detail of a portion of said supports as they appear when in use, and Fig. 6 is a further detail view showing said legs folded.

lorresponding letters of reference in the diiferent figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to so construct a support for hammocks, camp-chairs, and the like that it may be strong and durable, readily folded in a compact space, and manufactured at a minimum cost,-all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, a 0, indicate two bars, which are pivoted together at b, and provided with hooks at a a at the top for the support of ahammock or chair 0, which is preferably provided with two side bars cl d, attached thereto by means of cords cl (1' and suspended from the hooks a by means of rings 6 6, adj ustably secured to said side bars.

As the tendency of the bars a is to be drawn together at the top when a weight is applied to the hammock or chair a, it is obvious that means must be employed to overcome this tendency as well as to prevent the bars a from falling. I accomplish this end by means of a single short leg orbrace f, of such length and so adjusted in its relation to the bars a a as to engage therewith at their point of intersection, or, in other words, to rest in the crotch of said bars and prevent their collapse, while the lower end rests upon the ground in such a way as to tilt the bars a a forward in a plane oblique to that of the perpendicular, as shown in Fig. 2, the short or rear projecting end of the barf being so connected with the bars a as to render it rigid when in the position last named.

In order to prevent the brace f from slipping and creaking from the movement of the chair when compressed between the obliquely-arranged bars f, I provide pins or a upon the under side of said bars, which engage with jowls f, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and one of which is shown in Fig.6) and thus lock said brace in place, holding it the more firmly as the pressure is increased; but I do not regard said construction as absolutely essential, as it is obvious that the brace would retain its position without the locking-pins, but would be less firm.

To support the rear-projecting end of the brace f, I prefer to extend the pivot-bolt (shown at b) rearwardly and downwardly, as shown at b, and hinge it loosely within anotch formed in the rear end of said brace, a bolt f being employed to make said connection. By means of this arrangement, upon spreading the bars a and thus disconnecting the pins a from the brace f, the latter may be swung back and thence turned upon the pivotal point 1), when it may be folded compactly with the bars a a, as shown in Fig. 6, it being assumed, of course, that the hammock is first detached from the hooks a. The legs thus folded may be rolled within the hammock or chair body, which may be made of cloth or other flexible material, when it is in a form to be most easily transported. In lieu of the extension I) of the pivot-bolt, it is obvious that the rear end of the brace f may be connected to the upper parts of the bars Ct at by means of cords or chains, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus enabling the same result to be accomplished without departing from the principle of my invention. The brace f may also be placed above the pivotal point I), as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4; butIprefer to place it below.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1 1. A hammock or camp-chair support consisting of two folding bars pivotally connected to each other, an adjustable brace arrangedto engage near one end with said bars below their point of intersection, means for connecting the rear extension of said brace to said bars, and means for suspending a chair or hammock from their upper diverging ends whereby the tendency of said bars to collapse may compress said brace between them and render it rigid, while the latter serves as a prop for the former, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the bars a a, pivotally attached to each other, the brace f, having its upper end loosely attached to said bars and adjusted to intervene between said bars below their point of juncture and to stand normally in a plane oblique to that of said bars while it supports the latter in a plane oblique to that of the perpendicular, and means for suspendinga hammock or chair between the upper ends of said bars, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed thisspecification, in the presence of two subscribing, witnesses this 7th day of July, 1890.

FAY O. FAHWELL. Witnesses:

C. E. LYON, WAT .I. KNIGHT. 

